Pride Elementary School

Outstanding elementary school in New Tampa. For the most part, the teachers are outstanding and go above and beyond to help children succeed. Our PTA is top notch and the parental involvement is amazing for a public elementary school. My biggest compliment is that my child has not only had tremendous academic growth but thoroughly enjoys learning and WANTS to go to school. We toured several charter and private schools prior to making our decision to attend Pride and have never looked back. In addition to the regular academic curriculum, Pride also offers Art, PE, Music, Computer Lab, Gifted (AGP), Speech and after school activities such as "Cub Chorus" & the running club. On a side note, drop off and pick up are congested with traffic but this is greatly due to the fact that Hillsborough County cut several bus routes prior to the 2011-2012 school year.
--Submitted by a parent

School is no better or worse than other areas schools, most area schools are A rated. Our child's teacher is good at what she does for sure, however, the administration and office staff are difficult at best. Not pleasant over the phone or in person, even with legitimate concerns or school issues. Admin seem to be stuck in the "old school" way of approaching children (ie. my way or else) rather than adjusting their rigidness to reflect more modern approaches to education and child development. Traffic into the school is a NIGHTMARE, never experienced any school so poorly designed. Seems as though 75% of parents drop their children off each day, causing 30+ min delays each day in/out the only entrance to the school. Very frustrating way to start a day and zero relief in sight.
--Submitted by a parent

Very Very poor management. They started a new pickup procedure called Pride Park Pickup , where the teacher takes the kids enrolled for it as drop off point and waits till the parent picks up the kid. We chose the program initially but felt is as unsafe and no identification was being checked and the child was being sent to any one whom it recognizes. We gave a written letter and explicitly told the teacher know that my kid would go picked up by the daycare bus, in spite of it she sent him as 'Walker' and she would take the responsibility saying she didn t get to read our letter. When we complained to the asst principle, she says taking the kindergartener to the pride park itself was a courtesy ideally they have to by themselves!. A Kindergartener!!! We are highly concerned about child security here, trying to put my child in another school, maybe private... Also there is another teacher in the adjacent class who is totally disorganized, has a messy class room, keeps huge space for her personal stuff and keeps her class room totally unruly, has her half eaten sandwich laying around....it gross!
--Submitted by a parent

This is a very good school. Also, rated A in the county. My son graduated from the school and my daughter still attends. The teachers are an outstanding group of people. The PTA is very active and supportive. I would recommend this school for anyone moving into the New Tampa area
--Submitted by a parent

I have two children who have attended Pride, one of which just moved on to middle school. Overall I have been very pleased with Pride and it's development of it's students. We recently had a change in our Prinicipal. I have not been thoroughly impressed with the new Prinicpal but will allow more time to pass before making my full judgement of her abilities. I believe that the outgoing Principal did a wonderful job of laying the foundation for the new one and the teachers at Pride are some of the best. The majority have been there for several years and I think they take an honest interest in the children and have been very pleased with the individualization of the teaching of each child to suit their specific needs. This is a school with a very strong parental involvement which is why Pride continues to be a strong school.
--Submitted by a parent

Having two children, one who now is in middle school, I have seen a great deal of growth in the school. It's been 8 years now that I've been involved. In general, I believe that most of the teachers are highly motivated for the children to learn. Unfortunately as in all schools, I believe the FCAT/Hillsborough Writes does take up alot of the teachers time, that they would rather spent otherwise. I have one child who went through 6 years without any problems: however, my other child has always struggled. Since the 1st grade all his teachers have understood the issues at hand and have worked with me. There has been wonderful intervention strategies that have benefited my child greatly. This year will bring a new principal and I pray that we will be blessed with an educator/administrator who keeps our children always as a priority.
--Submitted by a parent

Pride is an excellant school for academics. It can't be beat in that department but the lack of regard towards families with younger siblings at home needs to be addressed. Each year the school has gotten worse about this. There is more and more 'family fun days' in the middle of the school days so not only are parents who have younger children not invited, but it also excludes those parents who have to work during the day. At last years' 'end of the year parties' the office was told to not allow anyone with young children in tow to check in. Some of the parents were planning on attending the parties because their child's teacher said they didn't mind if a sibling came but then was not allowed to check in or even go tell their child who was expecting them. Hopefully the new principal will turn things around.
--Submitted by a parent

Pride is one of the best, they work very hard to get your child to where they need to be academicaly, most ot he teachers go above and beyond for the children who need the little extra help. I am very proud and happy my children came over pinellas county to hillsborough county, Pride exspectations of learning are higher than Pinellas county. My children have excelled greatly thanks to Pride.
--Submitted by a parent

It's our 1st year with Pride Elementary and we absolutly love the school! The stuff is kind, the teachers are the best, my daughter is in the AGP class and learns new challenges all the time! One of the best schools in New Tampa!
--Submitted by a parent

We have been very happy with Pride Elementary! The staff truly cares for each and every child. This was our 3rd year and we have several to go. Parental involvement is very high. The academic programs are as good as or better than the local private school our oldest attended before moving to Pride. We have been very satisfied.
--Submitted by a parent